Heel cover trimming and tucking tool



June 6, 1933. w, NUTT 1,912,652

, HEEL COVER TRIMMING AND TUGKING TOOL Filed Jan. 30, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 6, 1933; w, NUTT 1,912,652

HEEL COVER TRIMMING AND TUCKING TOOL Filed Jan. 50, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented June 6, I933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE' WILLIAM NUTT, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW S YWT HEEL COVER TRIMMING AND TUCKING TOOL Application filed. January 30, 1931. Serial No. 512,463.

This invention relates to heel cover trimming and tucking tools and is herein illustrated as embodied in a combination hand tool for trimming an edge of a cover which has been applied to a heel and tucking the trimmed edge of the cover into a groove in the heel.

In prior Letters PatentNo. 1,704,204, dated March 5, 1929,and No.1,718,177, dated June 18, 1929, bothgranted on applications filed in my name, there are disclosed improved types of covered heels and edge portions of the covers of whichare tucked into grooves in the heel breasts, the first-mentioned Letters Patent showing what is known to the trade as an edge grooved-heel and the second-mentioned Letters Patent showing what iscalled a center grooved heel. The center grooved heel usually has a single, straight groove in the center of the breast, while the edge grooved heel has a curved groove at each sidenear, and substantially parallel to, the adjacent lateral edge of the heel breast. Letters Patent No. 1,718,177 also illustrate the conventional method and tools employed in trimming the edges of the cover upon the heel and tucking them lnto the grooves. I i

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination tool with which the cover trimming :and tucking operation may be performed with greater ease, speed and accuracy than could be attained with tools heretofore used. i

Withthis object in view, a feature of the invention consists in the combination; with trimming means for trimming an edgeof a cover upon a heel of tucking means arranged substantially in alinement with the trlmming means so that the trimming and tucking can be combined in a continuous operation, uninterrupted by any necessity for laylng down and picking up different tools, or even for a the operator to turn his hand to a new position during the progress of the operation. The trimming means may comprlse shears, to

one of the cutting blades of which a tucking bladeis fixed, as by securing it in the handle of the cutting blade, such arrangement being conduclve to s mplicity of .COIlStl'LlCtlOn and conven ence muse. y i.

Another feature of the invention, contributing to speed and accuracy in the trimming of the cover edge, resides in the provision of a gage rigid with the cover trimming blade and arranged to co-operate with the groove in the heel to position the blade to trim the cover to the proper width to be tucked into an edge grooved heel; and in a more highly developed form of the invention thetucking blade may have both straight and curved portions, so that the same tool may be effectively used for both center and edge grooves.

These and other features of the invention, as well as benefits to be derived from its use, will appear more fully in the following detailed description of certain practical embodiments thereof, to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the tool is used in trimming anedge of a cover upon a heel;

Fig. 2 is a detail in cross-section illustrating the manner in which the positioning gages co-operate with a groove in the heel;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the cover tucking step of the operation;

Fig. 4 is a detail in cross-section showing more clearly how the tucking blade operates upon the trimmed edge of the heel cover;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the tucking blade is curved;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the tucking portion of the tool shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing the use of the tool illustrated in Fig. in tucking a heel cover into an edge groove;

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 5 but showing a form of the invention adapted for use upon both center and edge grooved heels;

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the tucking portion of the tool shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail View showing the manner in which the tool of Fig.- 9 is used in tucking a cover into a center groove; and

Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the use of the tool in tucking a cover into an edge groove. 3

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention the trimming tool comprises shears having co-operating cutting blades 20, 22 pivoted together in the usual fashion by a pivot screw24. The cutting blades 20, 22 are provided with integral handles 26, 28, respectively, and the tool is grasped easily and naturally in the same manner as an ordinary pair of shears, as shown in Figs. 1 and3.

The back face of the blade is provided with a pair of parallel tool positioning gages 30, arranged to enter alternatively a groove in a heel breast, such as the center groove 34 in the breast of the heel 36 (see Fig. 2). The substantially flat side faces of the gages 30, 32 are also adapted to engage the breast face of a. heel'38 properly to position the shear blades 20, 22 to trim the edges of a heel cover to he tucked into the grooves or slots 40 in an edge grooved heel.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the cover trimming means is equally well adapted for operation upon heels of both the Y center and edge grooved types.

Secured in the handle portion 28 of the blade 20, and to all intents and purposes constituting an integral portion of said blade, is a thin blunt-edged tucking blade 42 which in Figs. 1 and 3 is shown as being straight to co-operate with the straight groove or slot 34 in a center grooved heel. The tucking blade 42 is disposed substantially in alinement with the trimming blades 20, 22, and it is important that this be so since it per mits the tucking step of the operation to be performed by practically a continuation of the motion used in trimming the edge of the heel. cover, with no interruption for the purpose of securing a new grasp upon the tool nor even any'necessity of turning the hand.

In the modified form of tool shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the tucking blade, designated by 44, is curved to conform to the curvature of the edge groove 40 of a heel in which the grooves are approximately parallel to the adjacent lateral edges of the breast face of the heel and are, consequently, curved.

In the more highly developed form of the invention shown in Fig. 9 the tucking blade J has a straight portion 46 and a curved portion 48 so that it is equally suitable for oper'-' ating upon a center grooved heel, as illustrated in Fig. 11, or an edge grooved heel, as illustrated in Fig. 12.

The use of my novel combination hand tool for trimming and tucking the edges of covers upon grooved heels will now be described, first with reference to a center grooved heel and then with reference to an edge grooved heel.

In the case of the center grooved heel the operation is Well shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The cover 50 having been applied to the curved face of the heel 36 in the usual manner, one side of the breast portion 52 of the cover is laid across the breast of the heel, extending beyond the groove 34. The heel being held in one hand as shown in Fig. 1, the trimming blade 20 is positioned by introducing the gage 30 into the groove 34 and the edge "of the cover is then easily trimmed to exactly the right width for tucking into the groove. The tool is now slid forward in the same direction in which it already lies and the tucking blade 42 is rocked to tuck the edge of the cover into the groove 34, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The other side 54 of the breast portion of the heel cover is next laid across the breast of the heel, the gage 32 being introduced into the groove 34 and the trimming blades thus being accurately positioned to trim the second edge of the cover; the trimming and tucking operation is repeated; and the smooth portion 56 of the handle of the blade 22 may be used, if needed, to rub or smooth out any wrinkles or inequalities in the cover.

The operation in the case of an edge grooved heel is illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive. In this case the cover 58 having been applied to the heel '38, the tool is positioned with the side face of the gage 32 in engagement with the breast face of the heel, as shown in Fig. 7 and the cover is trimmed. The trimmed edge of the cover is then laid over on the breast face of the heel across the groove 40 into which it is tucked with the curved blade 44, as shown in Fig. 8. The operation is then repeated on the other side of the heel with the tool positioned for the trimming operation, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7, by engagement of the side face of the gage 30 with the breast face of the heel.

In the. use of the tool illustrated in Fig. 9 the operation is the same as described above, either the straight portion 46 of the tucking blade or the curved portion 48 thereof being used for the tucking operation, depending upon whether the groove in the heel is straight or curved.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y 1. A combination hand tool for trimming and tucking aheel cover, comprising trimming means for trimming an edge of a cover upon a heel, and tucking means substantially in alinement with the trimming means for tucking the trimmed edge of the cover into a groove in the heel.

2. A combination hand tool for trimming and tucking a heel cover, comprising shears having co-operating cutting blades, and a tucking blade arranged substantially in 1 alinement with the cutting blades.

3. A combination hand tool for trimming and tucking a heel cover, comprising shears having pivoted cutting blades, and a tucking blade secured to one of the cutting blades substantially in alinement therewith.

4. A combination hand tool for trimming an edge of a cover upon a heel and tucking the trimmed edge into a groove in the heel, comprising trimming means, and a tucking blade substantially in alinement with the V trimming means and having straight and curved operating portions for tucking the cover into straight and curved grooves respectively. 7 5. A combination hand tool for trimmin an edge of a cover upon a heel and tucking the trimmed edge into a groove in the heel, comprising trimming means having an offset gage constructed and arranged to enter a strai ht center groove to position the tool relatively thereto, said gage having a side portion adapted to engage the breast face of the heel to position the tool to trim the cover for a curved'edge groove, and a tucking blade substantially in alinement with the trimming means and having straight and curved operating portions for tucking the cover into straight and curved grooves respectively.

In testimony whereof I have signed my '40 name to this specification.

WILLIAM H. NUTT. 

